Bathtub



" May 1s, 1937.

F. CAPPUCCIO BATHTUB Filed'Jue 9, 1934 INVENToR. C

WW m .n @A K N m F Patented May 18, 1937 astral BATHTUB Frank Cappuccio, Oakland, Calif. Application June 9, 1934, Serial No. 729,773

1 Claim.

The invention relates to bath tubs and particularly to those which are specially designed to prevent the bather from slipping therein while bathing or upon entering or leaving the tub.

An object of the invention is to provide a bath tub of the character described having substantially the entire inner surface and exposed top portions thereof covered by rubber or similar material whereby the danger of a bather slipping on the tub while entering, leaving or resting in or on top of the tub will be substantially entirely avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bath tub having a covering of the character described which will in itself define a. complete water-proof container using the tub proper essentially for support only, and which will, by reason of the complet-e one-piece surface, not require the piecing of portions thereof `onto the tub, thereby not only insuring a water-tight asscmbly but also eiiectively preventing the admittance of water to a position intermediate the tub and covering.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bath tub of the above character in which the bottom, side and top portions thereof will be of such softness and pliancy as to insure the comfort and safety of invalids, aged and other persons to whom the hard and glazed surfaces of the usual tub render bathing both difficult and not without actual attending risk.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a bath tub of the character described which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, and which will not depart materially from the manufacture of existing types of tubs.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of a bath tub constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View of the tub shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a modified construction of a tub built in accordance with my-invention.

With reference to the drawing, the bath tub 6 of my invention may be of any of the conventional designs such as of single or double side walls, built-in or sunken types, and comprises a main ridged tub casing 'I and rubber covering 5 8 therefor. The casing may be of metal construction and provided preferably with a roughened inner surface, over which the covering 8 is vulcanized as a, single sheet over the bottom 9, the inner side and end walls ll and the top portion I2 of the tub. In order to protect the outer side edges I3 of the covering against peeling or loosening, the latter may be extended past the top portion l2 and joined with the outer sides i4 of the tub casing. In the ernbodiment shown in Figures i and 2, the covering is extended over substantially the entire depth of the outer side and to the floor on which the tub is supported, while in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 where a. marginal recess I5 is formed in the outer side lll adjacent the top thereof, the covering 3 may be terminated in such recess. As will also be clear from the drawing, the covering is vulcanized around the usual drain opening lli, the overflow opening l'l and faucet opening i8 of the casing to aiford connection with such openings of appropriate ttings for entering water into and discharging the same from the tub.

In accordance with this arrangement the rub- 0 ber will be vulcanized into intimate association with the casing to form an integral structure whereby each and every portion of the covering will tightly adhere to the casing and will remain so substantially indefinitely. Also, as may be 35 understood, the covering, by reason of its extent, forms in itself a complete liquid-proof receptacle and as a result leakage of water either from the tub or to a position behind the covering and intermediate the latter and the tub cas- 40 ing, such as might occur with but a partial or pieced covering, is entirely avoided.

A a further and particularly important feature of my bath tub, the rubber covering while tough and durable is nevertheless soft and preferably of a thickness of at least one half inch. Thus by reason of the softness and depth of the coating, and the extent thereof to completely cover the inside and top of the tub, the danger of a bather sustaining an injury by slipping and falling in the tub is practically entirely obviated. Of course it will be readily understood that the possibility of a bather slipping over the rubber coating is so small as to be negligible and since the rubber covers the accessible inner parts of the tub, this protection against slipping is afforded the bather While in the tub, during entering or leaving the same, or While resting on the top of the tub such as for bathing the feet or to` assist in drying the body.

Preferably to maintain the rubber coating dry and sanitary throughout long periods of use, the outer surface of the rubber may be of a closeknitted imporous structure to prevent absorption of Water into the coating. While the outer surface of the coating is in this manner preferably closely drawn to render such surface water-proof, the body of the covering may be of a spongier nature to insure the over-al1 softness and cushioning value of the coating.

Another feature of the tub is that the vsame may be manufactured simply and cheaply and Without departing materially from the present manufacture of bath tubs. In the first place the 20 shape and material of the tub casing may be substantialiy the same as in existing types of tubs, but by reason of the fact that the inner surface of the tub is afforded by the rubber covering, the inner surfaces of the casing need not be kexpensively finished as in the conventional type tub and this saving will go far to offset the expense of Vulcanizing the rubber coating.

I claim:

A bath tub comprising, a rigid tub casing formed with a bottom, double wall sides and ends joined in a horizontal top or rim portion about the tub, the outer of said walls being provided with a circumferential extending recess adjacent said top, and a, rubber coating vulcanized as a single continuous sheet over said bottom and inner walls of said sides and ends and extended over said top and partially down the outer sides oi said outer side and end Walls and terminated in said recess.

FRANK CAPPUCCIO..V 

